When designing and installing an efficient pond filtration system, two processes must be addressed These processes are biological filtration and mechanical filtration.

Biological filtration utilizes colonies of beneficial bacteria to break down and eliminate organic waste products from the pond water. Mechanical filtration accomplishes the removal of suspended solids from the water. When used to complement each other, these two filtration processes can maintain a clear and healthy aquatic environment, with very little maintenance required.

The biological filtration is very important to pond ecology as it removes the byproducts of fish waste and organic debris, thus detoxifying the water. This process is essential in providing a safe environment for fish.

Biological filters are tanks or containers containing a filter material that provides a tremendous amount of surface area to house colonies of the types of beneficial bacteria that complete the ‘nitrogen cycle”. The filter must supply a constant flow of oxygen and nutrient rich water for these colonies to thrive. Then media in these filters should only be cleaned when they become physically clogged, restricting the free flow of water. Cleaning disturbs and depletes the bacteria colonies thus decreasing the biological capacity of the system. It is recommended that some type of mechanical pre-filter be provided to screen or settle out solids that could prematurely clog the bio-filter. This pre-filtering can be accomplished using settling tanks, brush tanks, sand filters, etc.

The beneficial bacteria that colonize in the filter occur naturally in the pond and are found living on all surfaces of the pond. A new filter system can take 6-10 weeks, depending on temperature and other variables, to naturally achieve an optimum level of colonization of the filter media. This “maturation” period can be significantly reduced by introducing “seed” bacteria into the system. These bacteria are available commercially and are packaged in either the liquid form of live cultures or freeze-dried spores.

Even though the beneficial bacteria grow naturally in the pond, most back yard ornamental fish ponds require a bio-filter system to augment natures filtration. These ponds usually have a much higher concentration of fish than would occur naturally, and the fish are fed a high-protein diet. This results in a higher biological waste load than the naturally occurring bacteria can handle. The bio-filter provides the extra bacteria needed to completely eliminate ammonia and other toxic nitrogen compounds.

Ammonia occurs naturally in the pond and is extremely toxic to fish. The presence of ammonia can cause a green water algae problem. In a pond without a efficiently operating bio-filter system, ammonia levels could rise and become toxic to the fish if it were not for the algae. When ammonia levels rise, algae cells colonize the pond and consume the ammonia as a nutrient, thus making the water safe for fish. An efficiently operating biological filter eliminates the ammonia build-up, thus eliminating the cause of green water or “algae bloom”.

Here’s a look at the “nitrogen cycle” as performed in a quality biological filter Ammonia is crated from two sources in a pond.

The nitrogen cycle consists of three basic steps that reduce the toxic ammonia to toxic nitrite, and then to non-toxic nitrate.

Biological filters come in many sizes, shapes, and design configurations. Generally, surface area of filter media is much more important than the depth of the media. In a deep filter bed, the first 6" to 12” of media receives abundant supplies of nutrients and oxygen, and the bacterial colonies flourish to capacity. As the water continues to pass through subsequent layers of media, it becomes deprived of oxygen and nutrients. As a result, the media becomes less colonized and less efficient. A large surface area tank is much more efficient than a tall, barrel type tank with the same amount of filtering media.

At Waterscape Designs, Inc. , we design and manufacture fiberglass filter systems to meet any pond keepers needs. Our bio-filter systems are all designed to insure the utmost in efficiency, ease of installation and simple maintenance. Our filter tanks are all constructed of gel-coated, high gauge fiberglass and will not degrade and become brittle with exposure to the elements as most of our competitors tanks do.

Our upflow filters are easily cleaned without disturbing the beneficial bacteria contained in the media. Waterscape Designs, Inc. pond filtration systems are in service throughout the country and have proven to be the best and most economical units on the market today. We have our own manufacturing facility and can create any custom system to meet your individual requirements, large or small.

Waterscape Designs, Inc. is a California licensed contractor (License #824893) and can install your filtration system. Please do not hesitate to call us if we can answer any questions about our products.

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Waterscape Designs, Inc.
1112 B West 9th Street . Upland, CA. 91786 . (909) 981-1731
(Lic. #824893)